HP spent $13.9 billion for EDS in 2008, and $11.1 billion for Autonomy in 2012, and has since taken massive write-downs of both businesses. HP recently alleged that it was basically duped in the Autonomy deal, asserting that it recently found evidence of financial improprieties that occurred prior to the acquisition. Former Autonomy CEO Mike Lynch has aggressively denied that any wrongdoing took place under his watch.

The Journal reports that the interest in Autonomy has come from "other U.S. tech companies or their representatives."